Hard to believe Junior Eurovision is just three days away! Hard to believe they’re now into the second rehearsals! Nevertheless the excitement gets us all looking forward to Saturday!
Before I give my Top 10 list, I want to talk of the songs. Funny how two months ago, people were complaining about the Junior Eurovision songs and that they’re not as good as last year’s. I hate when they do that whining. Social media does it all the time. Each year’s field differs from year to year. Those that were patient or gave songs a fair chance would come to notice a lot of the songs were very good. Actually, there isn’t a single song in this year’s Contest I feel is worthy of being called a disappointment. All of them give you a reason to like it. Not all of them are attention grabbers but they all have their own qualities and all have great messages.
Just days ago, I had a discussion of the songs with Marina and Leo. It’s hard to tell which song will win right now. The three of us saw three songs that had the best chances of winning, but no clear favorite as of now. Sometimes it’s about a song that fits best with Junior Eurovision. It’s very easy to question the songs and which ones are most likely to excel in JESC. Is one too mature? Is one too immature? Will one be turned off with how cutesy they act on stage? Will some feel this child is too much of a mini-adult? Biggest of all, asking of each song how well will it go with the online voters? It’s always hard to tell which songs will be the right songs to win.
Looking at the songs themselves, there are less ballads than last year, but the ballads are stronger than last year’s. There are a lot of songs with dance beats but they’re not as intense as some of last year’s entries. Especially the Yan Girls. This year has a mix of styles and genres. Very rarely so you hear a blues-like song at Junior Eurovision. Another thing, while this year’s slogan is ‘Let’s Bloom,’ it’s interesting Poland’s song is the only song including that theme in the lyrics with the line “I’m not afraid to bloom like a flower.”
I could talk more about the songs but let’s save the excess talk for later and get to my Top 10 now:
- UKRAINE: It was loaded with buzz at the start and it still has a lot of buzz despite some tough rivals released after. Easy to see why. It starts calmly and explodes into its energy. It has a tempo and a feel that will easily get you hooked. The song has a great message and Artem definitely knows how to deliver a song and a show!
- PORTUGAL: Isn’t it something how two of the top favorites are back-to-back in the running order? This song is the opposite of ‘Dim.’ While Junior Eurovision always has a lot of ballads, this song stands out with the music, the message of the song and Victoria’s singing both in terms of her skill and her heart. A true gem!
- ESTONIA: Possibly the most mature entry of the Contest. The song is very energetic and infectious and Annabelle really knows how to sing the song well and deliver its message even if we don’t understand Estonian. It’s easy to hear why so many have caught onto the song.
- ARMENIA: Maybe releasing your song less than a month before the Contest is a good idea. If Armenia had a strategy to win or a ‘sneak attack’ in mind, this is the song to do it. It gets catchier every time you hear it. The song may first seem too cutesy, but Leo can make you like it over time.
- CYPRUS: Completely different from the other songs and the summer feel of the song is its best quality. This is a song that can get you liking it without even trying. It may not have as many thrills as some of the other songs but its simplicity is its strength.
- SPAIN: You can tell Spain wants to win with a song like this! Nevertheless Chloe does a great job here. The song may come across as too cutesy, but the energy of the song will get you liking it and maybe dance to it. A guilt-free guilty pleasure.
- IRELAND: Ireland is doing something different this year and it’s paying off. Enya is a great talent and the song is also a song that could sound like it’s even worthy of the adult Eurovision. The dance beat and the message of the song will get you liking it.
- NETHERLANDS: Although it’s not the best I’ve seen from the Netherlands, this is a song that has a lot to get you liking it whether the many styles of music mixed in, the energy or the chemistry of the two. Of all entries, I see this song most likely to work the crowd with the “Sing! Ohh-oh!”
- GEORGIA: This ballad lacks the surprises you come to expect from a Georgia entry. Despite that, the song works Andria’s passionate vocals to perfection and comes off as a ballad that goes beyond your common ballad and you can even find quite moving.
- ITALY: This song is not one of the better ones of the Contest. Nevertheless, it has its own unique charm and its charm is what will get you liking it. Despite the playfulness of the song, Simone still delivers well in the vocals.
It’s easier to like a lot of Junior Eurovision songs than it is to create a list and rank them first to tenth. Sometimes, depending on the year’s field, you might have to leave songs you like out of your Top 10. There are some Junior Eurovision songs I like this year that didn’t make my Top 10. It’s kind of unfortunate they join the group of songs I didn’t care for that much.
Here are my thought on the songs that didn’t make my personal Top 10. Some I liked, some I didn’t care for. I will list them in alphabetical order:
- ALBANIA: Almost made my Top 10. I like how Nikol does a blues-like song and she just lets it all out in the vocals. It’s a song you don’t think will charm you but does.
- FRANCE: I like it but I didn’t find it catchy enough to be in my Top 10. Could be I’m comparing it to France’s past winners. A good song with a lot of good energy, nevertheless.
- GERMANY: Sure, it’s another ballad. Sure, it’s another environmental-themed song. Its best quality is Bjarne’s voice. It has the right amount of innocence, energy, joy and wonder for it.
- MALTA: Some may dismiss this ballad as simple and sweet. In truth, it’s a very personal song that’s quite deep. Photos of the first rehearsal send a message this song will end the Contest stronger than we thought.
- NORTH MACEDONIA: Two talented singer blend well here. It has its calm moments and then goes into high energy. A positive message with that boost of energy added in.
- POLAND: It’s a song that’s easy to dismiss as boring. What makes this song is Dominik’s singing. He delivers the message with optimism, innocence and hope.
- SAN MARINO: I didn’t care for this song too much. Despite it, the girls are talented and they work well on this song. The song’s simplicity could end up being its strength.
And there you have it! That is my personal Top 10 list before the Contest along with my opinions of each of the songs. It would be interesting during the Contest. Which songs you gave high expectations to finished lower than you thought? Which songs that had low expectations finished better than you thought? Will the winner be one of the favorites? Or will they be a dark horse that comes out ahead? Only on Saturday will everything be decided!
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